COVID-19

AALL’s Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates & Resources

Last updated: December 27, 2022

AALL continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation, and is working on additional benefits to assist you during this time. AALL has several resources available while you work remotely. Staying in touch with one another is vital—My Communities is a great place to read what your fellow colleagues are doing, to post questions, and to check in with each other. If you are looking to boost your professional development, explore AALL education resources, including complimentary CALI access for AALL members as well as past AALL Annual Meeting programs and webinars . Also be sure to register for our new Virtual Coffee Chats.

As the current situation changes daily, AALL is acting promptly to balance safety and the continuity of AALL business. AALL Headquarters staff is working remotely and remain ready to assist members. If you have questions or comments, please contact AALL’s Headquarters Office at 312.939.4764.  Please check this page regularly for updates. Please know that you are not alone—we are #AALLin this together.

AALL’S STATEMENTS & UPDATES

ON DEMAND WEBINARS

 

  • COVID-19 CANCELLATION CONSIDERATIONS FOR AALL CHAPTERS

    As COVID-19 is impacting all of us as individuals and as organizations, we understand that AALL chapters have cancelled their meetings or are looking to cancel or postpone upcoming meetings. Below are some considerations to help mitigate costs while still balancing the safety and the health of our members and program attendees.

    While understanding that AALL chapters are independent entities that negotiate contracts and plan events independently, AALL is here to guide and assist you while you make decisions on your meetings. Please note that the general liability insurance that AALL provides to chapters does not include meeting cancellations. We understand that as chapters you have to mitigate the financial losses to the organization while at the same time taking into account the safety and health of your chapter members and program attendees.

    CHAPTERS CONSIDERING CANCELLATIONS OR POSTPONEMENTS

    Factors to consider in determining if it is necessary or prudent to cancel or postpone a meeting, include but are not limited to:

    • Percentage of attendees unable to attend due to their institutions’ travel restrictions
    • Check if you have a separate meeting cancellation policy for the meeting and review the policy to see if you can recoup money.
    • Local, state, or federal restrictions on group gathering and travel
    • Financial penalties for canceling the contract
      • Review your contract with the facility to determine what language is included that may allow cancellation without a penalty. This is usually found in the Force Majeure clause. Acts of God, government regulations, cessation of transportation or widespread domestic airport closures, conditions which cause a % of attendee loss by the contracting party, and a situation that makes it illegal, impossible, or commercially impracticable to fully perform under the agreement are usually the reasons listed in the Force Majeure clause. These are starting points for negotiations with the facility.
      • Review the Cancellation clause in the agreement that provides information regarding the amount of the chapter’s liability if a termination without penalty is not possible. This amount usually includes a percentage of room night commitment and food and beverage minimums.
      • Talk to your facility’s contact person to discuss your concerns and discuss the options for canceling or postponing the meeting. The chapter may be able to better mitigate costs by working with the facility to postpone the meeting to a later date, thus, allowing the facility to also mitigate their loss. A mutually agreed upon decision works best when both groups are willing to make concessions and find a shared solution.
      • If the chapter is unwilling or unable to reschedule the meeting with the facility and there is no cause determined for termination without penalty, the chapter will be liable for the cancellation costs outlined in the contract.

    CHAPTERS THAT ALREADY CANCELED THEIR MEETINGS

    Once a decision has been made to cancel the meeting, the chapter will need to communicate this to the attendees, keeping them informed and aware of their responsibilities. Below are some items that chapters would want to communicate:

    • Provide a statement to the attendees announcing the cancellation and provide any pertinent information regarding rescheduling of the meeting (if applicable).
    • Include information on processing any registration refunds or if the chapter will transfer registration fees to the rescheduled meeting (if applicable).
    • If individuals made their own hotel reservations, provide them with information on how to cancel their rooms and the process of getting refunds if their credit cards were charged a deposit. The hotel can usually assist you with this information.
    • If attendees booked their travel by air, determine if airlines have instituted any waivers during your meeting time period and what the rules are for reissuing tickets. Provide this information to your attendees and instruct them to cancel their flights before the day they are scheduled to fly. They should work with their airline to rebook the ticket within the established guidelines.

  • COVID-19 LEGAL AND GOVERNMENT RESOURCES

    Government Actions and Information

    Coronavirus (COVID-19): Related Legislative, Presidential, and Regulatory Documents, United States Government Publishing Office. Updates are ongoing.

    Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Information on vaccines, locating a vaccine site, symptoms,  prevention, higher risk populations, what to do if you are sick, situation summary, U.S. cases,  guidance for businesses and employers, and more. Updates are ongoing.

    Coronavirus: What You Need to Know, National Governors Association; Actions by individual states and from the federal government. Updates are ongoing.

    Court Orders and Updates During COVID-19 Pandemic, United States Courts; Links to all federal court websites, court orders, and other information posted to the courts’ websites regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Updates are ongoing.

    COVID.gov, United States (U.S.) federal government website to connect people in the U.S. with information about vaccines, tests, treatments, and masks, as well as to get the latest updates on COVID-19 in their communities. Updates are ongoing.

    Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2, EPA: United States Environmental Protection Agency; Products that meet EPA’s criteria for use in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Updates are ongoing.

    FBI Records: Freedom of Information/Privacy Acts (FOIPA), Federal Bureau of Investigation; Information about submitting electronic Freedom of Information/Privacy Act requests during the pandemic. Updates are ongoing.

    How Is Each State Responding to COVID-19?, NPR; Tracks developments in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. Updates are ongoing.

    State Fiscal Responses to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), NCSL: National Conference of State Legislatures; Outlines state budget legislation, rainy day fund transfers, and economic measures.  Updates are ongoing.

    A State-by-State Look at Coronavirus in Prisons, The Marshall Project; Data on COVID-19 infections in state and federal prisons. Updates are ongoing.

    Tracking Prisons’ Response to Coronavirus, The Marshall Project; Facilities across the country are suspending visits from family and lawyers. This resource tracks closures and other changes. Submit updates through the form. Updates are ongoing.

    United States: Federal, State, and Local Government Responses to COVID-19, Law Library of Congress. Updates are ongoing.

    TOOLS AND CURATED RESOURCES

    Coronavirus Resource Center, Johns Hopkins University; Includes overall case tracker; policies, cases, and infection trends. Updates are ongoing.

    Constitutional Powers and Issues During a Quarantine Situation, Constitution Daily: National Constitution Center. Article was updated on March 13, 2021.

    Coronavirus Relief Center, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP;  Information about available city, state, federal, and nonprofit resources available to those contending with COVID-19 economic impacts.  Updates are ongoing.

    Coronavirus Resource Guide, Law Library of Congress; Covers federal and state laws, regulations, and executive actions in the United States; also includes relevant Congressional Research Services reports and Global Legal Monitor articles. Updates are ongoing.

    Coronavirus Web Archive Collection, Library of Congress; Includes a wide variety of web content documenting the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years, the Library of Congress is now making its growing Coronavirus Web Archive available to the public. Updates are ongoing.

    COVID-19 and Racism: Legislative Responses, Vanderbilt University Law Library; Member Sarah Dunaway’s guide consolidates COVID-19 racism-related legislation for states and municipalities. Updates are ongoing.

    COVID-19 Complaint Tracker, Hunton Andrews Kurt LLP; Lawsuits by category, state, and filing date. Updates are ongoing.

    COVID-19 Law Lab, World Health Organization/United Nations/O’Neill Institute at Georgetown Law; Database of legal documents from over 190 countries concerning pandemic-related legislation. Updates are ongoing.

    COVID-19 Resources for Federal Depository Librarians and Patrons, Federal Depository Library Program. Updates are ongoing.

    COVID-19 Resources for Indigenous Peoples, Arizona State University Library. Updates are ongoing.

    COVID-19 Toolkit, Federal Depository Library Program. Updates are ongoing.

    COVID-19 Web Archive, gathers together more than 154 individual web archive collections created by more than 120 libraries, archives, and cultural heritage organizations into a shared access portal built and maintained by the Internet Archive. Updates are ongoing.

    Legal Responses to Coronavirus (COVID-19), Law Library: UCLA School of Law; Member Lynn McClelland’s guide includes state and federal actions and pending legislation. Updates are ongoing.

    Monitoring the Legal Response to COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean, AALL’s Foreign, Comparative, and International Law SIS (FCIL-SIS) and Latino Caucus. Updates are ongoing.

    Mortgage and Housing Assistance During the Coronavirus National Emergency, Consumer Finance Protection Bureau; Consolidated information on the CARES Act mortgage relief, protections for renters, and resources for additional help. Updates are ongoing.

    NCSL Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources, NCSL: National Conference of State Legislatures; Legal information and resources in policy areas ranging from education to health care costs and access. Updates are ongoing.

    World Correctional Institutions in the COVID-19 Pandemic, The Library at Washington and Lee School of Law. Updates Are Ongoing.

    Legal Information Industry & EXAMS

    Bar Exam: COVID-19 Updates, National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE); Details and updates concerning upcoming bar  exams.

    Law Firm Layoff and Employment News, ABA Journal. Updates are ongoing.

    LSAT Dates and Deadlines, Law School Admission Council; Information regarding upcoming LSAT exams. Updates are ongoing.

  • COVID-19 RESOURCES FOR YOU

    REOPENING

    COVID-19 Recovery, American Library Association; Collection of tools to help communities, library workers, and library supporters plot the best course forward for their libraries. Updates are ongoing.

    Guidance for Managing Federal Depository Library Collections Safely During COVID-19, Federal Depository Library Program. Updates are ongoing.

    How to Be Heard and Understood Through Your Mask, Law School Toolbox. Article is from November 4, 2020.

    How to Sanitize Collections in a Pandemic, American Libraries; Conservators weigh in on the mysteries of materials handling during COVID-19. Article is from March 27, 2020

    Planning for Reopening Resources, American Library Association; Includes a checklist, state planning documents, and international guidelines/resources. Updates are ongoing.

    REopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums (REALM), Collaboration between Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), OCLC, and Battelle; Science-based updates and resources on mitigating COVID-19 exposure to library staff and visitors. Updates are ongoing.

    Reopening: Not “When” but “How?,” American Libraries; Libraries consider the realities of a post-pandemic world. Article is from April 17, 2020.

    Resources for Hearing-Impaired Educators and Students If/When Everyone Is Wearing a Mask in the Fall, Medium; Written by member Mari Cheney. Article is from May 28, 2020.

    Seven Websites and Sources for COVID-19 Templates and Tools, MakeUseOf; Resources for COVID-19 letter, checklist, and signage templates. Article is from June 12, 2020.

    Six Considerations for Planning a Return to the Office (Even When You Don’t Know Everything), Fast Company; Critical considerations for guiding your return-to-office plan. Article is from May 19, 2020.

    Fact-Checking

    The COVID Tracking Project , Related Sciences /The Atlantic; Collects information from 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories to provide comprehensive data for the novel coronavirus. Updates are ongoing.

    A Guide to the Coronavirus, FactCheck.org: Annenberg Public Policy Center, University of Pennsylvania; Extensive fact-checking on coronavirus coverage in the media and a list of reputable sources. Updates are ongoing.

    Law Librarians Combatting Infodemic During the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020 AALL webinar; FCIL-SIS’s Continuing Education Committee held two webinars on legal responses to COVID-19 worldwide. Participants are Mariya Badeva-Bright, Victoria De La Torre,  Yemisi Dina, Marcelo Rodríguez, Alison Shea, Dr. Michele A. L. Villagran,  and Alex Zhang, Webinar is from June 18, 2020.

    Remote Instruction and Services

    Academic Law Libraries & the Early Days of the COVID-19 Pandemic, AALL Spectrum. Members Clanitra Stewart Nejdl & Edna Lewis discuss how Vanderbilt University Law Library and UC Berkeley Law Library reworked procedures and services to preserve their missions. Article is from Sept/Oct 2020.

    Ask A Director / The Impact of COVID-19 on Organizations’ Tech Plans, AALL Spectrum. Members June Hsiao Liebert & Edward Hart discuss how COVID-19 has impacted their organization’s technology plans and if they are accelerating plans for AI technology. Article is from Nov/Dec 2020.

    COVID-19, Copyright, and Library Superpowers (Part I and Part II), Kyle K. Courtney; Member Kyle K. Courtney provides copyright guidance for remote instruction and research. Articles are from March 2020.

    COVID-19: How Did Your Staff Respond to the Pandemic?, AALL Spectrum. Authors Shira Megerman & Marcelo Rodriguez talk with Steven A. Lastres, director of knowledge management services at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP in New York, about what his firm did to navigate the pandemic. Article is from March/April 2021.

    COVID-19: How Did Your Staff Respond to the Pandemic?, AALL Spectrum. Authors Shira Megerman & Marcelo Rodriguez talk with Kirstin Nelson, senior law librarian for the National Agricultural Library  on how her library and organization have adapted to the pandemic. Article is from May/June 2021.

    COVID-19: How Did Your Staff Respond to the Pandemic?, AALL Spectrum. Authors Shira Megerman & Marcelo Rodriguez talk with Madeline Cohen, assistant director of the Westminster Law Library at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law on how her library navigated the pandemic. Article is from July/August 2021.

    COVID-19: How Law Libraries Succeeded by Going Virtual During the Pandemic, AALL Spectrum. Authors Shira Megerman & Marcelo Rodriguez discuss why law librarians’ expertise, ability to adapt, and excellent communication skills made the difference. Article is from January/February 2021.

    COVID-19: The Perfect Storm of Isolation & Lack of Representation, AALL Spectrum. Authors Aesha Duval, Geraldine Cepeda & Gina Gutierrez discuss law librarians can respond to help improve access to legal materials in the U.S. territories.. Article is from Nov/Dec 2020.

    Finding Copyright-Free and Free-to-Use Images, CS-SIS Blog; Member Shay Elbaum provides sources and strategies for copyright compliance. Article is from March 24, 2020.

    Global COVID-19 Research Efforts, AALL Spectrum. Authors Marcelo Rodriguez, Xavier Beauchamp-Tremblay & Luis Acosta discuss how law libraries and the Law Library of Congress are leading the way in their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Article is from Sept/Oct 2020.

    Outreach without Obligation: Insights Gained from Student Services during the Pandemic, AALL Spectrum. Authors Geraldine Kalim and Bill Tringali discuss using asynchronous content, creative communication practices, and health literacy initiatives to better serve students. Article is from March/April 2022.

    Novel Responses: Helping Law Firms Answer Clients’ COVID-19 Questions, AALL Spectrum. Members Cynthia Brown & Allison Reeve Davis discuss Littler Mendelson’s novel responses to the coronavirus crisis. Article is from Sept/Oct 2020.

    Recommendations for Online Teaching, St John’s University School of Law; This is a collection of recommendations drawn from a variety of sources, including colleagues, students, webinars, books, articles, podcasts, and our own experimentation; member Courtney Selby is a co-author. Resource is from July 21, 2020.

    Remote Access to Library Resources (COVID-19 Response), University of Michigan Law Library; Provides information on accessing resources and services. Updates are ongoing.

    Serving the Public When the Building’s Closed, Hack Library School; Ideas for staying connected to your service community during a shutdown. Article is from March 17, 2020.

    TEACHing From a Distance and Copyright Considerations, Library of Congress. Article is from March 17, 2020.

    Teaching in the Time of a Shut-Down for #COVID-19, Gallagher Blogs: University of Washington School of Law; Resources for online instruction from member Mary Whisner. Post is from March 6, 2020.

    Remote Working Strategies

    Effective Leadership With Virtual Teams: To Infinity and Beyond, 2020 AALL Webinar;  Members Cynthia Brown, Katie Brown, Colleen Cable, and Ana Ramirez Toft-Nielsen address virtual team leadership; includes real world success stories from members and practical tips. Webinar is from April 23, 2020.

    Five Strategies to Manage Your Newly Remote Employees, Fast Company; Advice based on a decade of experience and coaching. Article is from March 18, 2020.

    Five Ways to Combat Zoom Fatigue and Online Meeting Overload, Dice. Article is from September 22, 2020.

    Improving Your Internet Connection at Home, IIT Chicago-Kent Law Library Blog. Member Debbie Ginsberg shares tips for checking and improving your internet speed. Article is from September 18, 2020.

    How to Zoom: An Introduction, CS-SIS Blog; Member Artie Berns provides a step-by-step guide. Article is from March 25, 2020.

    In Seclusion Podcast, Member Greg Lambert discusses work from home (WFH) strategies with a wide variety of law librarians and other legal professionals. Podcast is ongoing.

    Reference Desk: Using Tech in Disaster Planning and Management, AALL Spectrum; Members Liz McCurry Johnson, Dolly Knight, and Maribel Nash provide guidance on preparing your institution to function remotely. Article is from May/June 2018.

    So You Don’t Have a Printer, CS-SIS Blog; Member Jessica Pasquale provides a variety of workarounds to use while working from home. Article is from May 11, 2020.

    The Seven Tools That Every Remote Team Needs, Forbes; Recommended tools for synchronous and asynchronous communication, project management, information management, group idea generation, and feedback/status check-ups. Article is from June 26, 2020.

    Taxes, VPNs, and Office Hours: The Ultimate Forbes Guide to Working From Home, Forbes; Tips from a tax lawyer. Article is from August 12, 2020.

    These 13 Research-Backed Strategies Will Help You Talk to Anyone More Effectively, Fast Company; Five research-based actions to strengthen individual communication with coworkers, clients, or family members. Article is from July 24, 2020.

    Special Offers and Access

    Free Products and Resources for Legal Professionals During Coronavirus Crisis, LawSites by Robert Ambrogi. Updates are ongoing.

    Wellness and Social Distancing

    Being Mindful of Your Mental Health During COVID-19 Outbreak, Healthline. Article is from March 17, 2020.

    The Emotion Archive, McKinsey & Company; Over 800 comments from people around the world about how COVID-19 has affected their health, family, finances, work, and more. Comments are organized according to a psychoevolutionary system developed by Dr. Robert Plutchik. Updates are ongoing.

    Fourteen Stretches to Counteract the Effects of Sitting, Mindbodygreen. Article is from September 21, 2020.

    How to Restore Your Confidence After a Layoff, Forbes; Tips from a career coach. Article is from July 8, 2020.

    Keep Coronavirus off Your Phone: How to Effectively Clean and Disinfect Your Device, CNET. Article is from March 11, 2020.

    The Lazy Way to an Awesome Life: Three Secrets Backed by Research, Barking Up the Wrong Tree; How to use Behavioral Activation Therapy (BAT) for wellness. Article is from August 11, 2020.

    Learn How to Play Chess Online: Free Chess Lessons for Beginners, Intermediate Players, and Beyond, Open Culture. Article is from November 30, 2020.

    Legal Ease: Self-Care for Library Staff, AALL; Written by eight members, this white paper presents best practices about caring for not only our stakeholders and our patrons, ourselves, and each other. White paper is from 2018.

    Manage Anxiety and Stress, CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The common signs of stress and methods for addressing them. Updates are ongoing.

    The Psychology of Coronavirus—How to Manage It, Quartz. Article is from March 9, 2020.

    The Red-Flag Signs You May Be Burning Out While Working From Home, Fast Company. Article is from September 24, 2020.

    Resources for Social Distancing, The Goodson Blogson: Duke Law; Resources and ideas to brighten your time at home. Article is from March 16, 2020.

    The Secret of Calm: How to De-Stress If You Have One Minute, Five Minutes–or 14 Days: The Guardian; Suggested practices and exercises from a psychologist. Article is from March 20, 2020.

    Seven Science-Based Strategies to Cope With Coronavirus Anxiety, The Conversation; Suggestions from a psychologist. Article is from March 10, 2020.

    Seven Ways the Pandemic Is Affecting Our Mental Heath, Greater Good Science Center. Article is from August 11, 2020.

    23 Mental Health Books for Anyone Who’s Going Through It Right Now, Self; Recommendations from  mental health professionals and personal picks from the author. Article is from May 29, 2020.

    Use Your Time in Isolation to Learn Everything You’ve Always Wanted To: Free Online Courses, Audio Books, Ebooks, Movies, Coloring Books and More, Open Culture. Article is from March 16, 2020.

  • RESOURCES FOR EMPLOYERS

    Organizational Planning and MANAGEMENT 

    Law Librarian Leadership Opportunities in the Wake of COVID-19, AALL; Members Cynthia Brown, Greg Lambert, Steve Lastres, Joseph D. Lawson, and Clanitra Stewart Nejdl provide practical guidance on leadership during the coronavirus; including closures, communications, staff, students, patrons, and client management. Webinar is from March 27, 2020.

    LawNext Episode 66: How One Law School Prepared for Coronavirus Shutdown, LawSites by Robert Ambrogi; Member David Armond discusses how his law school, BYU Law, prepared for a shutdown and moved courses online. Episode is from March 16, 2020.

    Pandemic Preparedness, American Library Association; Includes library-specific policy suggestions and professional tools and resources from governmental and medical entities. Updates are ongoing.

    What Should Law Firms Do to Prepare for a Possible COVID-19 Epidemic? With the ALA’s April Campbell, The Geek in Review; Members Marlene Gebauer and Greg Lambert talk to April Campbell, Association of Legal Administrators’ interim executive director, about law firm preparation. Updated on February 27, 2020.

    Your Organization Is Grieving–Here’s How You Can Help, McKinsey & Company; Practical things that you as a leader can start doing today to help your colleagues process their grief and speed recovery. Article is from September 17, 2020.

    SAFETY AND LEGAL resources for organizations

    Coronavirus and COVID-19, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Includes information on non-discrimination, ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and more. Updates are ongoing.

    COVID-19 and the Family and Medical Leave Act Questions and Answers, United States Department of Labor. Updates are ongoing.

    COVID-19 Standards, Occupational Safety and Health Administration: United States Department of Labor; Provides OSHA standards, directives, and other related information that may apply to worker exposure. Updates are ongoing.

    Time to Hit Pause: What Employers Need to Know About Yesterday’s Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Forbes. Updated on March 19, 2020.

  • Resources & Tools from Vendors to Assist You During COVID-19

    If you’re aware of other accommodations/resources being made, please email them to leadership@aall.org. The resources below are courtesy of AALL’s Committee on Relations with Information Vendors (CRIV).

    Academic Law Libraries

    LexisNexis
    • Providing a 59-day trial to the LexisNexis Digital Library.
      • Includes casebooks from Carolina Academic Press, study aids from Carolina Academic Press, treaties, practice guides, and more.
      • Need to send an excel spreadsheet with names and email addresses of students and faculty who need access to eBooks@lexisnexis.com. The subject of the email should include the name of the school and LexisNexis Digital Library ID Request – Coronavirus Support.
      • You can contact Deana Sparling sparling@lexisnexis.com and Dave Kohr David.Kohr@lexisnexis.com to be put in contact with a Digital Media Specialist who will assist you.
    • Lexis has also distributed to librarians links and search tips to search for COVID-19.
    • Law360 has a dedicated COVID-19 page.
    • Lexis Practice Advisor has developed a coronavirus resource kit
    • If you cannot accept deliveries at the moment, Lexis will suspend shipments of your standing order materials. You just need to get in contact with your Print and Digital Account Manager.
    West Academic
    • Providing digital access to casebooks through the end of May.
      • Students need to call the customer service team at 877.880.1330 and mention that they are at a school affected by a coronavirus-related closure.
    • Providing access to West academic assessment through the end of May. Instructions are available
    • Providing access to the study aid platform until June 1.
      • To set-up access they will need your IP range, email domain, and a landscape version of a school logo.
    • Your law school sales consultant can help you set up access.
    Thomson Reuters
    • If you cannot accept deliveries of your standing orders at the moment, TR will suspend shipments. You just need to contact Academic Customer Service to stop the deliveries and then to restart them.
    • TR has set-up a COVID-19 Resource Center.
    • Practical Law has a global coronavirus toolkit.
    • We are currently offering national webinars geared toward helping students with their assignments, as well as those from our Prepare to Practice series. Students can register for these webinars at lawschool.thomsonreuters.com.
    • Providing students and faculty free access to some CLE programs, events, and skills courses from West LegalEdcenter. Here is a link to the program: WLEC Academic Outreach Program as well as a link to the course: WLEC Academic Outreach Course List.
    Wolters Kluwer
    • Providing e-casebook access to students through the vitalsource helps platform.
      • VITALSOURCE HELPS PROGRAM
        • For more information regarding the VitalSource Helps Program, please read the full press release.
      • VitalSource Helps Access Instructions:
        • To get started, students should visit bookshelf.vitalsource.com and log-in or create a Bookshelf account with their institution-provided email address.
        • Here are instructions on creating a Bookshelf account for both students and instructors.
        • Once students create an account with an institution-provided email address, they should log in and click on the “Explore” tab in the upper left corner of the screen. This tab provides access to the freely available e-textbooks.
      • For a complete list of VitalSource frequently asked questions regarding access to the VitalSource Helps Program, please visit their site to learn more.
      • Please note that at this time, student downloads are limited to 7 titles and trial access will expire on Monday, May 25, 2020.
    • For courses where a Connected Casebook has been adopted, we will also provide students access to the e-book, learning tools, and study center for their textbook on CasebookConnect.com. Student access will include:
      • Digital e-textbooks with search, highlighting, and note-taking capabilities.
      • Additional learning materials and practice questions from leading study aids such as Examples & Explanations and Glannon Guides, including:
        • Video explanations
        • Flashcards
        • Multiple choice
        • Hypothetical short answer
        • Essays
        • Issue-spotting exercises
    • Outlining and Case-briefing tools to help students work more efficiently.
    • Go to CaseboookConnect.com/free.
    • Providing access to their online study aid platform as well. You will need to provide the following information:
      • Contact name, phone, email, address.
      • Billing contact, name, phone, email, address. (although they are providing the service for free until June 30, 2020.
      • FTE based on 509 reporting to the ABA. We bill on the reported FTE from the ABA Form 509.
      • Tax Exempt certificate.
      • Delivery Option (how you want to provide access):
        • Option 1: Referrer URL Authentication (via institution’s password-protected web site)
          • Institution has a password-protected section on their own library website.
          • Students log in to the library website using their credentials.
          • Students navigate to the page where the referral URL has been placed.
          • The URL of this page is configured against the institution’s account.
          • Allows students to gain access to the bookshelf without using login credentials.
        • Option 2: “Library Card” Authentication
          • Institution provides WK a unique identifier for eligible students (email or student id#).
          • Students go directly to aspenlaw.com to log in.
        • Option 3: IP Range Authentication
          • Institution provides WK a range of IP addresses for the institution.
          • Students who are within the IP range can navigate directly to aspenlaw.com.
          • Students have access off-campus if the institution has a proxy server.
        • To arrange for Connected Casebook or the study aid platform access you can contact your Wolters Kluwer Legal Education Institutional Sales Representative.
        • Providing free access to their COVID-19 smart charts.
    Bluebook
    • The Bluebook Editors provided trial keys that last 60 days for students. To request the keys, send the number of keys needed to orders@legalbluebook.com
      • To redeem this key (and set up an account), enter it at www.legalbluebook.com where it says “Bluebook Key Redemption” and follow the on-screen instructions to set up a username (unique and active email address) and password. You only use the key once. From that point forward, you access your account with your username and password.
      • The subscription is active 60 days from the date you redeem this key on the website.
      • After you set up your account you might need to log out and then log back in again to view site contents.
    HeinOnline
    • Halted physical shipments of print and microfiche products.
    • If for some reason you do not have remote access in place please have the authorized license contact on your account email us at holsupport@wshein.com for assistance.
    Vital Source Helps and Red Shelf
    • Go to https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/user/signin to log-in or create an account. Please note, that access to materials will only be provided through May 25, 2020 and users are limited to 7 titles. If you do not see the Explore tab when you log-in to bookshelf, please clear your browser cache and try signing in again.
      • Can be used to access study aids, casebooks, and more.
    • There is another platform called redshelf, which is also providing electronic access to books through May 25. Go to: https://www.about.redshelf.com/redshelfresponds Scroll down the page and click on “Access free eBooks”.Click on Log-in in the upper right corner and then create an account. You have to choose your school from the list of participating schools. Some law schools are just folded in with a parent University. This service, like vitalsource, also allows you to borrow 7 titles without incurring any costs.
    Other
    • E-book vendors such as Proquest and EBSCO are providing unlimited user access to e-books for a limited period of time even if you purchased only 1 user access.
    • JSTOR has opened up access to all journal archive collections through June 30, 2020.
    • Many journal databases are providing trial access through the Spring semester.

    Law Firm Libraries

    Bloomberg Law
    • Bloomberg Law has created a special resource page In Focus: Coronavirus that includes coronavirus-related resources and guidance for employers and lawyers.
    Fastcase
    • Fastcase is offering free webinars on how to conduct legal research. These webinars are available for CLE credit in many jurisdictions.
    LexisNexis
    • Law360 has a dedicated COVID-19 page containing breaking news, in-depth features and expert analysis and commentary on all things related to COVID-19 and the law. The free content is available here.
    • Lexis Practice Advisor has developed a Coronavirus Resource Kit covering a wide range of topics across multiple practice areas. It addresses emerging issues and offers guidance relating to COVID-10 and the law.

    Court Libraries

    Bloomberg Law
    • Bloomberg Law has opened up much of its Covid-19 coverage outside the paywall at https://www.bloombergindustry.com/covid-19-resources/.
    • Pro bono attorneys can utilize Bloomberg Law’s vast array of resources across multiple practice areas in order to best serve their clients for 30-day at no charge via https://pro.bloomberglaw.com/bloomberg-law-trial-for-pro-bono-attorneys/.
    • Print mailings to the Tax Management Portfolios are being held. Subscribers will receive a consolidated set of updates when the situation abates.
    • Users with IP authenticated access to Bloomberg Law experiencing difficulty accessing their subscriptions should contact their representative or the Bloomberg Law Help Desk at 888.560.2529 for user names and passwords.
    • County law libraries handling reference offsite can also get complimentary access to Bloomberg Law along with remote training to help them support their patrons during this pandemic.
    LexisNexis
    • As a courtesy, LexisNexis can temporarily hold your subscriptions during this time.
    • As a courtesy we will hold book shipment(s) until May 22, 2020, at which time, the subscription will be processed. Your account will be billed and invoiced as usual, per payment terms, without interruption. If you would like to release your hold sooner or you need to extend the hold longer, you will need to contact your Lexis Print/Digital Account Manager or representative by May 15, 2020.
    • I hope this resolves the immediate situation with separation from your office and access to your publications. If you need immediate access and you do not already subscribe to the eBook in the same title on hold, in most cases we can provide eBook options for your titles.
    • NOTE:
      • Please be advised qualifying eBooks should only be offered complimentary if customers do not place a subscription hold on their print.
      • Customer must have an active print subscription in good standing.
      • Be aware of the titles that can be offered in eBook form with the discount.
      • Federal Government is excluded.
    Thomson Reuters
    • Our Westlaw account managers are assisting public law libraries and patrons in multiple ways. For librarians, Patron Access can be made available for unlimited use. Patrons can register for a trial of Westlaw Edge and account managers also can generate temporary passwords to Westlaw for distribution to patrons by law librarians. And for government attorneys, judges and staff of courts and law departments/agencies, the account managers can create temporary passwords for Westlaw Edge access.
    • Also, for Westlaw subscribers, they have developed the COVID-19 Legal Materials & News page on Westlaw to help understand how governments, agencies, and courts are responding to the pandemic and how the pandemic relates to the practice of law. The COVID-19 Legal Materials & News page provides a single access point within Westlaw that compiles COVID-19-related information from multiple content types – statutes, regulations, case law, dockets, current awareness, Practical Law and Reuters Legal, as well as court closure orders. The page will also include relevant analytical materials as they are produced, providing expert insight into how COVID-19 impacts all aspects of the practice of law.
    • And for government attorneys, judges and staff of courts and law departments/agencies, the account managers can create temporary passwords for Westlaw Edge access.
    • Thomson Reuters is offering a COVID-19 Resource Center on thomsonreuters.com. The free offering includes the latest Reuters reporting from around the world about the virus and efforts to slow its spread. The site also offers free resources, created and curated by Thomson Reuters legal and tax experts, to assist professionals in preparing for and responding to issues. This content set includes a Practical Law Toolkit to guide counsel working across jurisdictions through Practical Law’s global coronavirus, COVID-19, pandemics and business interruption content. New content will be added over time. Additionally, Reuters News has introduced a free embeddable COVID-19 tracking graphic for government bodies and health authorities.

    Law Libraries Open to the Public

    Bloomberg Law
    • Bloomberg Law has opened up much of its COVID-19 coverage outside the paywall at https://www.bloombergindustry.com/covid-19-resources/.
    • Pro bono attorneys can utilize Bloomberg Law’s vast array of resources across multiple practice areas in order to best serve their clients for 30-day at no charge via https://pro.bloomberglaw.com/bloomberg-law-trial-for-pro-bono-attorneys/.
    • Print mailings to the Tax Management Portfolios are being held. Subscribers will receive a consolidated set of updates when the situation abates.
    • Users with IP authenticated access to Bloomberg Law experiencing difficulty accessing their subscriptions should contact their representative or the Bloomberg Law Help Desk at 888.560.2529 for user names and passwords.
    • County law libraries handling reference offsite can also get complimentary access to Bloomberg Law along with remote training to help them support their patrons during this pandemic.
    LexisNexis
    • As a courtesy, LexisNexis can temporarily hold your subscriptions during this time.
    • As a courtesy we will hold book shipment(s) until May 22, 2020, at which time, the subscription will be processed. Your account will be billed and invoiced as usual, per payment terms, without interruption. If you would like to release your hold sooner or you need to extend the hold longer, you will need to contact your Lexis Print/Digital Account Manager or representative by May 15, 2020.
    • I hope this resolves the immediate situation with separation from your office and access to your publications. If you need immediate access and you do not already subscribe to the eBook in the same title on hold, in most cases we can provide eBook options for your titles.
    • NOTE:
      • Please be advised qualifying eBooks should only be offered complimentary if customers do not place a subscription hold on their print.
      • Customer must have an active print subscription in good standing.
      • Be aware of the titles that can be offered in eBook form with the discount.
      • Federal Government is excluded.
    Thomson Reuters
    • Our Westlaw account managers are assisting public law libraries and patrons in multiple ways. For librarians, Patron Access can be made available for unlimited use. Patrons can register for a trial of Westlaw Edge and account managers also can generate temporary passwords to Westlaw for distribution to patrons by law librarians. And for government attorneys, judges and staff of courts and law departments/agencies, the account managers can create temporary passwords for Westlaw Edge access.
    • Thomson Reuters is offering a COVID-19 Resource Center on thomsonreuters.com. The free offering includes the latest Reuters reporting from around the world about the virus and efforts to slow its spread. The site also offers free resources, created and curated by Thomson Reuters legal and tax experts, to assist professionals in preparing for and responding to issues. This content set includes a Practical Law Toolkit to guide counsel working across jurisdictions through Practical Law’s global coronavirus, COVID-19, pandemics and business interruption content. New content will be added over time.
    • Westlaw account managers are assisting public law libraries and patrons in multiple ways. For librarians, Patron Access can be made available for unlimited use. Patrons can register for a trial of Westlaw Edge and account managers also can generate temporary passwords to Westlaw for distribution to patrons by law librarians.
    • Also, for Westlaw subscribers, they have developed the COVID-19 Legal Materials & News page on Westlaw to help understand how governments, agencies, and courts are responding to the pandemic and how the pandemic relates to the practice of law. The COVID-19 Legal Materials & News page provides a single access point within Westlaw that compiles COVID-19-related information from multiple content types – statutes, regulations, case law, dockets, current awareness, Practical Law and Reuters Legal, as well as court closure orders. The page will also include relevant analytical materials as they are produced, providing expert insight into how COVID-19 impacts all aspects of the practice of law.